Weeder



April 1965 RA. BEZZERIDES 3,176, 83

, "WEEDER Original Filed May 2, "1960 ZSheets-S heet 2 PAUL A.BEZZER/DES INVENTDR} HUEBNER 8 WORREL ATTORNEYSi United States ?atent O22 Claims. (Cl. 172-686) The present invention relates to anagricultural implement and more particularly to a flexible earthworkingtool for destroying weeds and other undesired growth, and for otherwiseworking the ground, especially in proximity to cultivated plants, whileflexibly sliding past such plants. This application is a continuation ofmy co-pending application Serial No. 25,928 filed May 2, 1960 entitledWeeder, now abandoned.

One of the chief purposes of plant cultivation is to destroy weeds whichcompete with crop plants for soil nutrients and water, stifle plantgrowth, impede irrigation, interfere with harvest and processing of theharvested produce, and which blight the appearance of a field of crops.If unchecked, weeds can, of course, grow in any part of a field of rowcrops, that is, in the furrows between the rows, and on the ridges orbeds in close proximity to growing plants both between the rows andbetween adjacent plants in each row.

Many conventional earthworking tools are available for uprooting,cutting, or otherwise destroying weeds. Usually, such tools intended forrow crops include rigid earth engaging blades or teeth mounted formovement through the soil between the rows of plants. Several of theseconventional tools are effective for destroying weeds, and otherwisecultivating the soil, in the furrows and on the sides of the adjacentridges between the rows of plants.

However, in most instances the most deleterious weeds are those whichgrow closely adjacent to the plants. If undisturbed, prolific weedsfrequently grow so fast that they conceal and even stifle or choke youngcrop plants to which they are adjacent. Past efforts to destroy weedsclose to the plants have not been generally satisfactory because oftheir ineffectiveness or cost. The use of rigid weeding blades mountedso as to move through the soil closely adjacent to the plants have oftencontacted the crop plants, uprooting, scraping, or otherwise damagingthe same. Such rigid blades are frequently successful in destroyingweeds in laterally spaced relation to rows of crop plants. However, eventhis function is not always properly performed because movement of suchimplements over furrowed or uneven terrain causes lateral swaysufficient to move weeding blades into contact with the row plants ifthe blade is initially positioned in closely, laterally adjacentrelation to the row of plants. Even in instances in which there islittle or no sway, a rigid blade cannot reach between the plants in arow to destroy weeds without destroying the plants too. Therefore it hasheretofore been considered necessary to weed by hand the areas closelyadjacent to the crop plants and between the plants in the rows. However,such operations are time consuming and expensive, in some instances soexpensive as to render the production of certain row crops uneconomic.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anearthworking blade for destroying Weeds and other undesired growth, andfor otherwise cultivating the ground in close proximity to plants with aminimum of damage to the plants.

Another object is to provide a weeding blade which is effective in weederadication and which can be brought into contact with crop plants witha minimum or no damage thereto.

Another object is to provide an earthworking blade $176,783 g atentedApr. 6,1965

'ice

adapted flexibly to slide past plants with which it comes in contact.

Another object is to destroy weeds between the plants in a row thereofby an implement mounted for earth traversing movement longitudinally ofthe row.

Another object is to promote healthy plant growth, enable effectiveirrigation, facilitate harvest, and to improve field appearance throughimproved cultivation and weed control.

Other objects are to provide an earthworking blade which is simple andeconomical to manufacture and use, durable in construction, dependablein operation, adaptable for cultivating various kinds of crops and atvarious stages of growth, and which is highly elfective foraccomplishing its intended purposes.

These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent uponreference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an agricultural implement includingearthworking blades embodying the principles of the present inventionconnected to a tractor, which is shown fragmentarily in longitudinalsection, and with an implement in a earthworking position.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with thepositions of the superimposed tool bars for mounting the subject bladesshown in dashed lines.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the implement of FIG. 1 with portionsthereof broken away and with other portions omitted for illustrativeconvenience.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the implement showing therelationship between front and rear pairs of earthworking blades.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a pair of opposed, rearwardlyoverlapped, cultivating blades of the .on line 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a tractor is generallyindicated by the numeral 10 and includes ground Wheels, as 11, and apower lift mechanism generally identified by the numeral 12. Anagricultural implement 16, embodying the principles of the presentinvention, includes a frame 17 supported in a substantially horizontalposition in elevationally spaced relation to the ground 19 by the liftmechanism. It is to be understood that the tractor, the lift mechanismand the connections thereto which are shown are for purposes ofillustration and do not limit the invention in this respect. The frameincludes elongated front, intermediate, and rear tool bars.

20 extended transversely of the forward line of travel of the tractorand in transversely spaced relation to each other.

Front, inner and outer, elongated shanks 24 and 25, respectively, aremounted on the front tool bar 20 in longitudinally spaced relation toeach other therealong by U-bolts 26 fitted around the shanks above andbelow the tool bar, Plates 27 are slidably fitted over the forwardlyextended ends of the bolts, and nuts 28 are screwthreaded on the boltsagainst the plates. In this manner the shanks are adjustablelongitudinally along the tool bar and thus ta-ransversely of the line oftravel of the implement 16. Also, the shanks are mounted for elevationaladjustable movement with respect to the tool bar and for rotatableadjustment within the U bolts when the nuts are loosened. Similarly,rear, outer, and inner shanks 3t} and 31 are adjustably mounted on theintermediate and rear tool bars, respectively, by U-bolts 26,

plates 27, and associated nuts 28. It is thus evident that each shank issupported on its tool bar in a substantially erect plane in longitudinalalignment with the line of travel of the implement and that each shankhas an upper end portion 33 and a downwardly extended lower end portion34. lt isalso to be observed in FIG. 2 that the front and rear innnershanks 24 and 31 are in a common vertical plane in longitudinalalignment with said line of travel.

Elongated, substantially flat, longitudinally resiliently flexible,front, outer and innner earth engaging blades 40 and 41 are respectivelymounted on th lower end portions 34 of the front shanks 24. and 25 Rearouter and inner blades 43 and 44, shaped similarly to the front blades,are respectively mounted on the lower end portions of therear shanks 30and 31. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, Z "and. 4', the front blades 40and 41 extend horizontally outwardly from their shanks in substantiallyperpendicular relation thereto while therear blades 43 and 44 areslightly downwardly declined from their shanks.

Each blade 40, 41', 43 and 44 has forward and rearward end portions 50and 51, an angulated rear tip 52, upper and lower longitudinallyextended edges 53 and 54, and front and rear surfaces 56 and 57. Theforward portions of the outer blades are wrapped around theirrespect-ive shanks and connected thereto, as by welding. The front andrear, inner blades are divergently extended from the shanks to whichthey are respectively connected. In the illustrated embodiment, theforward end portions of corresponding front and rear inner blades areintegrally interconnected and extended about their respective shanks towhich they are also connected, as by welding.

The shanks 24, 25, 30 and 31 are adjusted in their bolts,26 so that theblades 40, 41, 43 and 44 extend rearwardly, laterally, from therespective shanks, with their front and rear surfaces 56 and 57 facingrespectively forwardly and rearwardly relatively to the direction ofmove- 'ment of the implement 1 6. The upper edges 53 of the blades arepreferably located slightly in advance of the lower edges 54 thereof.Stated otherwise, each blade is overlapping, staggered relation witihrespect to the line of travel of the tractor and the implement 16.Considering front and rear pairs of blades 40 and 43, the rearward endportions of the forward pair of blades are preferably laterally spacedfarther apart than the rearward end portions of the rear pair of blades.In cultivating certain crops, the rearward end portions of the rearblades transversely overlap the rearward end portions of bladesforwardly thereof, as viewed in the direction of travel and asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Even if the rearward end portions of theblades are not overlapped, however, the transverse distance betweenadjacent tips 52 is normally relatively narrow. Further, the shanks arerotatably adjustable in their respective U-bolts 26 to permit adjustmentof the angle ofattack between the outer blades 40 and 43 and the line oftravel of the implement. If it is desired to change the angle of attackof the inner blades 41 and 44, a different set of blades and mountingshank are em- 7 Of primary significance to the subject invention is thefact that each blade 40, 41, 43 and 44 is resiliently, longitudinallyflexible substantially about the longitudinal axis selection of bladedimensions and material. Preferably the rear blades are more flexiblethan the front blades for reasons soon to become apparent. How flexiblethe blades should be is a function of several variables including thetype of plants and stage of plant growth, the type of weeds to bedestroyed, the composition of the soil to be cultivated, and whether theblade is a front or a rear blade. Assuming that it is desired to destroysuch weeds as watergrass and tumbleweeds from a field of cabbage afterabout four weeks of growth of the cabbage plants from seeds plantedabout one inch deep, and subsequent to thinning the blades used arepreferably constructed of tempered, high carbon, spring steel with eachblade 40 and 41 in the front pair of blades having a thickness ofapproximately 0.090 inches, that is about fourteen gauge metal, and withtheir rearward end portions 51 spaced about three or four inches apart.The blades 43 and 44 in the rear pair of blades are about 0.060 inchthick or sixteen gauge metal, and have their rearward end portionsoverlapped. It is evident that when the plants are young and tender,and/or when the soil is relatively loosely composed, blades of greaterflexibility are employed than when the plants are more advanced in sizeand durability and/ or the soil is more tightly compacted. Thisdesignation of dimensions and materials is set forth merely toillustrate one commercially successful embodiment under one set ofcircumstances. Obviously the invention is not limited to either thematerial or dimensions disclosed.

Second Form The subject invention provides a second form of blade,generally indicated by the numeral 65, in FIG. 6, especially useful forcultivating very young and tender plants. This blade is preferably madeof a highly resiliently flexible, somewhat soft, material, such asrubber or plastic. The blade is elongated, has front and rear surfaces66 and 67, upper and lower edges 69 and 70 and forward and rearward endportions 71 and 72, as before. The forward end portion 7 1 of the blade65 is fitted in a notch at the lower end portion 81 of an elongatedshank 82 and is held therein by bolt 83 and nut 84. The shank is adaptedto be mounted on any of the tool bars 20 of the implement 16 all aspreviously described in connection with the first form of the invention.Likewise, the blade is mounted and angled in a manner similar to theblades 40, 41, 43, and 44 depending on its use as a front or rear blade.

More specifically, it has been found that the blade 65 can convenientlybe made from a sheet of four-ply rubber, similar to that employed in theouter carcassof an automobile tire, having a thickness of about one-halfof an inch, a maximum dimension between saidupper and lower edges 69 and70 of about three inches, and a length of about seven inches. Onceagain, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thesedimensions or material and that other degrees 'of flexibility areobtained when other dimensions and materials are used.

Operation The operation of the described embodiments of the subjectinvention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarizedat this point.

It is to be assumed that the subject implement 16 is adapted tocultivate a field of cabbage, as illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein twotransversely spaced, longitudinal rows of plants are located in a ridge91, and wherein furrows 92 separate adjacent ridges. Each plant has anupwardly extended stalk 94 and a head 95. Normally, the rows in eachridge are about thirteen inches apart. Weeding with the subjectimplement is usually first performed after the cabbage has been thinnedand fertilized and when the plants have had about four weeks of growthfrom seeds; such plants may be about four inches tall and usually have astalk diameter of about one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch. At the sametime, weeds may have advanced to a height of one inch and more. Of

i do not flex as much as the rear blades.

ofthe blades with :the stalks.

r 5 course, as the plants continue to grow thereafter, the subjectimplement can be used as required.

The implement 16 in in a cultivating position when the wheels 11 of thetractor 1i) straddle the ridge 9i and are individually located infurrows, as 92., in the field. With the adjustment of the blades 40, dll, 43 and 44 as illustrated anddescribed above, the front and rearpairs of blades are then on opposite sides of the rows of plants 90 intheridge and extend inwardly toward the stalks 9d and under the heads95. The rearward end portions 51 of all of the blades are in earthpenetrating engagement. The depth of earth penetration may be as littleas one half inch below the surface of the ground. The rearward endportions of the front blades are spaced laterally outwardly from thestalks 94 while the overfla-pped rearward end portions of the rearblades extend transversely of their respective rows. As illustratedll'L'FIG. 4, more front surface area of the front blades engages in agreat er width of soil farther out from the stalks than the rear blades.Conversely stated, less front surface area of the rear blades engagesthe soil but this smaller contact area is concentrated in closeproximity to the stalks, that is at the sides of the stalks and betweenadjacent stalks in a row.

As the implement 1.6 is drawn over the ground by the a tractor 10, theblades 46, 41, 43 and 44 pass through the reactive forces exertedagainst the front surfaces 56 of the rearward earth penetrating endportions of the blades. Because the rear blades are preferablyinherently more flexible than the front blades, and penetrate earthessentially. only at their rearward extremities, the front bladesticular-ly desired to destroy, weeds and otherwise to cultivate thesoil.

With reference to FIG. 5, it is noted that the rear blades 43 and 44extend between adjacent plant stalks 94 in a row thereof as the bladesmove longitudinally of'the row. As evident in FIG. 2, even the frontbladesdtl This is desirable and- 4-1, which are not overlapped, thrustencountered earth laterally inwardly toward the row and thus disturb andcover the soil between adjacent plants in the row to some extent. As therearward end portion 5-1 of each rear blade advances toward a stalk 94-of a plant, the

soil between the stalk and the blade is compressed or compacted. Whenthe soil is initially loosely compacted and/or the blades are working ata relatively shallow depth, the blades may actually contact the stalksand slide thereover incident to rearward flexing of the blades. If theblades operate at greater depth and/or if the soil is more. closelycompatced, sufficient dirt may collect between the stalks and blades andprevent actual contact Again, however, the blades simply flex rearwardlyand slide past the, compressed dirt and plants. Between adjacent plants,there is not as much resistance to forward movement of the blades and,there I fore, the blades are allowed resiliently to return towardstraightened position whereby they extend laterally outwardly betweenthe plants or at least disturb thesoil and uproot weeds therein. It isto be noted that while con ventional rigid or inflexible blades wouldalso work the soil between adjacent plants, if such rigid blades wereextended laterally outwardly far enough to reach between such adjacentplants, they would also contact the plants during forward movement and,being unable to flex rearwardly, they would uproot, destroy, or at leastdamage to some extent the plants contacted.

ple, engage the plants, these blades also flex rearwardly andslide overthe plants without uprooting, or otherwise damaging, the same.

In summary, therefore, it is to be noted that the blades 4-0, 41, 43,-4-4- of the subject implement are always flexible but that variations inthe degree of flexibility and other blade adjustment can be inadedepending primarily on the nature of the plants. A tabulation of sorneof the variables together with the direction in' which hhese variablesare changed with different typesof plantsis set forth below. i i

Plants or. Root Ad- Blade Characteristic Systems or Stalks vanced orThereof Young or Sturdy Tender Plants Flexibility More Less. LengthTress More Working depth Greater Less. Angle of attack .c Less Greater.Lateral spacing between the rearward Farther apart... Closer.

end portions.

While the above operation has referred to the cultivation of cabbage 9%,it is to be noted that the subject implement is equally as useful forcultivating onions, cot ton, corn, tomatoes and variou other row cropsplanted in multiple or single rows tothe ridge. For tomatoes, as anexample, it is best to penetrate the soil with the blades 4d, ll, 4-3,44 deeper than with cabbage, not to overlap the rear blades 43 and 44,and to make the angle of ati tack of the blades less severe, that is, toreduce the angle between the blades and the line of travel of theimplement. Thus, even if the blades do contact the root of the tomatoplants, they easily slide therepast plants.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that an earthworking tool hasbeen provided for destroying weeds and other undesirable growth in closeproximity to plants without uprooting or damaging the plants. Theimplement cultivates the soil between adjacent plants in a row andlaterally outwardly adjacent to each plant. The

subject tool i adaptable to various plants and stages of growth thereofby varying the flexibility, length, working depth, angularity, spacingand other characteristics, in cer- It has'been found during actual andpreferred method, embodiment, and ingredients, it

. is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scopeof the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as toembrace any and all equivalent methods, ingredients and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: i

1. In an earthworking implement for cultivating on v opposite sides of arow of crops and in close proximity to the crops, a frame; meansmounting the frame in elevated position for earth traversing movement ina predetermined forward direction along a line of travel extendedlongitudinally of the row of crops; a pair of elongated,

Of course, only the "more flexible rear without damage to the i 7substantially flat, longitudinally "resiliently flexible, earthpenetrating blades having forward and rearward end portions, and frontand rear surfaces; and means individually mounting the forwardendportions of the blades on the frame with the blades rearwardlyextended in convergent relation to each other, with their front surfacesfacing in said forward direction of travel and in opposed relation toeach other, and with the nearward end portions in juxtaposition to acommon upright plane aligned with said direction of travelwhereby duringmovement of the blades through the soil on opposite sides of a row ofcrops, the blades flex rearwardly incidentto engagement with the cropsand slide therepast without damaging or appreciably displacing thecrops, the rearward end portions of the blades beingtransverselyoverlapped and in longitudinally spaced relation to each other withrespect to said line of travel.

2.'In an earthworking implement for cultivating on opposite sidesof'a-row of crops and in close proximity to the crops, a frame; meansmounting the frame in elevated position for earth traversing movement ina predetermined forward direction along a line of travel extendedlongitudinally of the row of crops; a pair of elongated, substantiallyflat, longitudinally resiliently flexible, earth penetrating bladeshaving forward and rearward end portions, and front and rear surfaces;and means individually mounting the forwardend' portions of the bladeson the frame with the blades rearwardly extended in convergent relationto each other, with their front surfaces facing in said forwarddirection of travel and in --opposed relation to each other, and withthe rearward endportions in juxtaposition to a common upright planealigned with said direction of travel whereby during move ment of theblades through the soil on oposite sides of a row of crops, the bladesflex rearwardly incident to engagement with the crops and slidetherepast without damaging or appreciably displacing the crops, theblades being rearwardly declined from their forward end portions totheir rearward end portions. I

3. In an earthworking implement for cultivating on opposite sides of arow of crops and in close proximity to the crops, a frame; meansmounting the frame in elevergent relation to each other, with theirfront surfaces facing in said forward direction of travel and in opposed,relation to each other, and with the rearward end portions injuxtaposition to a common upright plane aligned with said direction oftravel whereby during movement of the blades through the soil onopposite sides of row crops, the blades flex rearwardly incident toengagement with the crops and slide therepast without damaging thecrops, the rearward end portions of the front pair of .-blades beingspaced farther apart than the rearward end portions of the rear pair ofblades.

4. The implementof claim 3 wherein the blades of said front pair ofblades are substantially horizontal while the blades of said rear pairare downwardly declined toward said rearward end portions, wherein theforward end portions of the rear blades are above the front blades andthe rearward end portions of the rear blades are below the front blades,wherein the rear blades are of greater longitudinal flexibility than thefront blades, and

wherein the rearward end portions of the rear blades are transverselyoverlapped.

5. The implement of claim 3 wherein the rear blades are ofgreaterlongitudinal flexibility than the front blades.

6. The implement of claim 3 wherein the rearward end portions of therear blades. extend downwardly below the rearward end portions'of thefront blades.

7. The implement of claim 3. wherein the rearward end portions of therear bladesextend inwardlyof the :rearward end portions of theircorrespondingifront blades.

8. In an earthworking implement for cultivating a row of crops and inclose proximity to the crops, a frame; means mounting the framein'elevated positionforearth traversing movement in a predeterminedforward direction along a line of travel extended longitudinally 'of therow of crops; front and rear substantiallyflat, longitudinallyresiliently flexible earth penetrating blades having forward andrearward end-portions, and front and rear surfaces; andmeansindividually mounting the forward end portions of the front and rearblades on the frame in longitudinally spaced relation thereon with theblades rearwardly extended in oblique angular relation to said line oftravel, Withtheir front 'surfacesfaci-ng in said forward direction oftravel, and with the rearward end portions in juxtaposition to a commonupright plane aligned with said direction of travel whereby duringmovement of the blades through the soil laterally adjacent to said rowof crops, the bladesflex rearwardly incident to engagement with thecrops and 'slide there- 'past without damaging the crops, the rear bladebeing of greater longitudinal flexibilitythan the front blade.

9. In an earthworking implement for cultivating a row of crops and inclose proximity to the crops, a'frame; means mounting the frame inelevated positionfor earth traversing movement in a predeterminedforward direction along a line of travel extended longitudinallyof therow of crops; front and rear substantially flat,'longi- -tudinallyresiliently flexible earth penetrating blades having forward andrearward end portions, and front and rear surfaces; and meansindividually mounting the forward end portions of the front and rearblades on the frame in longitudinally spaced relation thereon with theblades rearwardlyextended in oblique angular relation to said line oftravel, with their front surfaces facing in said forward direction oftravel, and with the rearward end portions in juxtaposition to .a commonupright plane aligned with said direction of travel whereby duringmovement of the blades through the soil laterally adjacent to said rowof'crops, the blades flexrearwardly incident to engagement with thecrops and slide therepast without damaging the crops,'the rearward endportion of the rear blade being extended inwardly of said common uprightplane relative to the rearward end portion of the front blade.

10. In an earthworking implement for cultivating a row of crops and inclose proximity to the crops, a frame; means mounting the frame inelevated position for earth traversing movement in a predeterminedforward direction along a line of travel extended longitudinally of therow of crops; front and rear substantiallyflat, longitudinallyresiliently flexible earth penetrating blades having forward andrearward end portions, and front and rear surfaces; and meansindividually mounting the forward endportions of the frontand rearblades on the frame in longitudinally spaced relation thereon with theblades rearwardly extended in oblique angular relation to said line oftravel, with their front surfaces facing in said forward direction oftravel, and withthe rearward end portions in juxtaposition to a commonupright plane aligned with said direction of travel whereby duringmovement of the blades through the soil laterally adjacent to said rowof crops, the blades flex rearwardly incident to engagement with thecrops and slide there- 7 a side of a row of crops and in close proximityto the crops, a frame; means mounting the framein elevated position forearth traversing movement along a line of travel extended longitudinallyof the row of crops; front and rear elongated, resiliently flexibleearth engaging blades having forward and rearward end portions and frontand rear surfaces; and means mounted in the frame spaced in thedirection of earth traversing movement of the frame individuallymounting the forward end portions of the front and rear blades with therearward end portion of each blade extended obliquely rearwardly andlaterally from its mounting means, the front blade being more acutelyangularly related to the direction of movement than the rear blade, thefront faces of the blades being disposed in substantially erect planesand facing in the direction of earth traversing movement, and the bladesbeing adapted to flex rearwardly incident to engagement with the cropsand to slide therepast with a minimum of damage thereto.

12. In an earthworking implement for cultivating on opposite sides of arow of crops and in close proximity to the crops, a frame; meansmounting the frame in elevated position for earth traversing movement ina predetermined forward direction along a line of travel ex tendedlongituidnally of the row of crops; a pair of elongated, transverselysubstantially flat blades having predetermined forward and rearward endsand front and rear surfaces; and means individually connected to theforward ends of the blades mounting the blades of the frame with theblades in transversely substantially erect position and longitudinallyrearwardly extended in convergent relation to each other with theirfront surfaces facing obliquely in said forward direction of travel andin opposed relation to each other on opposite sides of said row, andwith their rearward ends adjacent to a common upright plane of referencealigned with said direction of travel and intermediate the forward endsof the blades, said blades each being substantially rigid in itstransverse dimension, being longitudinally substantially rigid invertical reference, and being longitudinally resiliently flexible inhorizontal reference whereby during movement of the blades through thesoil on opposite sides of the row the blades flex rearwardly incident toengagement free of all flexing forces with its rearward end spacedinwardly from its forward end a predetermined distance, and in which themounting means mounts the forward ends of the blades a distance apartless than the total of said inward spacing of the rearward ends of theblades from their respective forward ends when in relaxed condition.

15. In an earthworking implement for cultivating row crops in closeproximity to the crops, a frame; means mounting the frame for earthtraversing movement longitudinally of a row of such crops insubstantially constant predetermined relative position transversely ofthe row; an elongated transversely substantially flat blade havingopposite ends; and means in the frame in predetermined laterally spacedrelation to the row of crops connected to the blade and mounting theblade in the frame in transversely substantially erect positionrearwardly extended along the ground in oblique angular relation to saidrow of crops and rearwardly convergent therewith, said blade beingsubstantially rigid in its transverse dimension, being longitudinallysubstantially rigid in vertical reference, being longitudinallyresiliently flexible in horizontal reference, and having a transverselysubstantially flat front face portion forwardly and laterally presentedtoward said row, the blade having a relaxed condition to which a 10 ittends to return when free of all flexing forces with its rearward endspaced transversely of the implement from its forward end a distancegreater than said spacing of the mounting means from the row of crops.

16. In an earthworking implement for cultivating row crops in closeproximity to the crops, a frame; means mounting the frame for earthtraversing movement longitudinlly of 'a row of such crops;an elongatedtransversely substantially flat blade having opposite ends; and meansmounting the blade in the frame in transversely approximately erectposition rearwardly extended along the ground in oblique angularrelation to saidrow of crops and rearwardly convergent therewith, saidblade being substantially rigid in its transverse dimension, beinglongi- =tudinally substantially rigid in vertical reference, beinglongtudinally resiliently flexible in horizontal reference, and havingupper and lower longitudinally extended edges, the lower edge of theblade being disposed for earth engagement and the upper edge thereofbeing slightly in advance of its lower edge so as to provide a frontsurface being transversely of the blade in somewhat acute angularrelation to the horizontal.

17. In an earthworking implement for cultivating on opposite sides of arow of crops and in close proximity to the crops, a frame; meansmounting the frame for earth traversing movement in a predeterminedforward direction along a line of travel extending longitudinally of therow of crops; a pair of elongated, transversely substantially fiatblades having predetermined forward and rearward ends and front and rearsurfaces; and means connected to the blades at positions forwardlyspaced from the rearward ends thereof mounting the blades on the framewith the blades in transversely approximately erect positions andlongitudinally rearwardly extended in convergent relation to each other,with their front surfaces facing obliquely in said forward direction oftravel and in opposed relation to each other on opposite sides of saidrow, and with their rearward ends adjacent to a common upright plane ofreference aligned with said direction of travel and intermediate theforward ends of the blades, said blades being longitudinally resilientlyflexible in horizontal reference whereby during movement of the bladesthrough the soil on opposite sides of the row the blades flex rearwardlyincident to engagement with the crops and slide therepast with a minimumof damage and displacement thereof.

18. The implement of claim 17 in which the blades have upper and lowerlongitudinally extended edges, the lower edge of each blade beingdisposed for earth engagement and the upper edge of each blade beingslightly in advance of its lower edge so that its front surfacetransversely of the blade is in somewhat acute angular relation to thehorizontal.

19. The implement of claim 17 in which each blade has a relaxedcondition to which it tends to return when free of all flexing forceswith its rearward end spaced inwardly from its forward end apredetermined distance, and in which the mounting means mounts theforward ends of the blades a distance apart less than the total of saidinward spacing of the rearward ends of the blades from their respectiveforward ends when in relaxed condition.

20. The implement of claim 17 in which the rearward ends of the bladesare transversely overlapped and are in spaced relation to each otherlongitudinally of said line of travel.

21. In an earthworking implement for cultivating along a side of a rowof crops and in close proximity to the crops, a frame; means mountingthe frame for earth traversing movement along a line of travel extendinglongitudinally of the row of crops; front and rear elongated,

longitudinally horizontally resiliently flexible earth engaging bladeshaving forward and rearward end portions and front and rear surfaces;and means mounted in the frame spaced in the direction of earthtraversing movet l ment of the frame connected to the blades atpositions in forwardly spaced relation from their rearward end portionsmounting the front and rear blades in the frame with the rearward endportion of each blade extended obliquely rearwardly and laterally fromits mounting means, the front blade being more acutely angularly relatedto the direction of movement than the rear blade, the front faces of theblades being transversely substantially erect and facing in thedirection of earth traversing movement, and the blades being adapted toflex rearwardly incident to engagement with obstructions and to slidetherepast during earth traversing movement.

22. In an earthworking implement for cultivating along a side of a rowof crops and in close proximity to the crops, a frame; means mountingthe frame for earth traversing movement along a line of travel extendedlongitudinally of the row of crops; front and rear elongated,longitudinally horizontally resiliently flexible earth engaging bladeshaving forward and rearward end portions and front and rear surfaces;and means mounted in the frame spaced in the direction of earthtraversing movement of the frame connected to the blades at positions inforwardly spaced relation from their rearward end portions mounting thefront and rearblades in the frame with the rearward end portion of eachblade extended obliquely rearwardly and laterally from its mountingmeans, the rear blade being of greater longitudinal horizontal resilientflexibility than the front blade, the front faces of the blades beingtransversely substantially erect and facing in the direction of earthtraversing movement, and the blades being adapted to flex rearwardlyincident to engagement with obstructions and to slide therepast duringearth traversing movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 464,346 12/91Whipple 172--142 OTHER REFERENCES Whats New (H&M Rubber Cultivating Toolpublished in Implement & Tractor, J an. 24, 1959 (page 36).

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Examiner.

1. IN AN EARTHWORKING IMPLEMENT FOR CULTIVATING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF AROW OF CROPS AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CROPS, A FRAME; MEANSMOUNTING THE FRAME IN ELEVATED POSITION FOR EARTH TRAVERSING MOVEMET INA PREDETERMINED FORWARD DIRECTION ALONG A LINE OF TRAVEL EXTENDEDLONGITUDINALLY OF THE ROW OF CROPS; A PAIR OF ELONGATED, SUBSTANTIALLYFLAT, LONGITUDINALLY RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE, EARTH PENETRATING BLADESHAVING FORWARD AND REARWARD END PORTIONS, AND FRONT AND REAR SURFACES;AND MEANS INDIVIDUALLY MOUNTING THE FORWARD END PORTIONS OF THE BLADESON THE FRAME WITH THE BLADES REARWARDLY EXTENDED IN CONVERGENT RELATIONTO EACH OTHER, WITH THEIR FRONT SURFACES FACING IN SAID FORWARDDIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND IN OPPOSED RELATION TO EACH OTHER, AND WITH THEREARWARD END PORTIONS IN JUXTAPOSITION TO A COMMON UPRIGHT PLANE ALIGNEDWITH SAID DIRECTION OF TRAVEL WHEREBY DURING MOVEMENT OF THE BLADESTHROUGH THE SOIL ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A ROW OF CROPS, THE BLADES FLEXREARWARDLY INCIDENT TO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CROPS AND SLIDE THEREPASTWITHOUT DAMAGING OR APPRECIABLY DISPLACING THE CROPS, THE REARWARD ENDPORTIONS OF THE BLADES BEING TRANSVERSELY OVERLAPPED AND INLONGITUDINALLY SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT TO SAID LINEOF TRAVEL.